Iraq's Oil Ministry has expressed "deep regret and astonishment" over plans announced by the autonomous Kurdish region to begin piping oil to Turkey without central government approval and has threatened legal action against any co

Iraq is keen to see oil shipped via pipeline from the northern Kurdish region but any exports must be approved by Baghdad, Deputy Prime Minister for energy Hussain al-Shahristani said, after flows on the pipeline started on Friday.

Iraqi and Turkish energy officials are expected to meet in Baghdad on Sunday after Ankara agreed a package of energy deals with Iraq's autonomous northern region that the central government says are illegal.
Turkish Energy Min